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Nanyang Siang Pau, 17 September 1954, Page 5
Remains of Pre-War Special Branch Detective Chief Wong Chin Yoke Discovered in Jakarta
Cremated and Flown to Singapore; Arrived at 11:30 AM Today; Service at Fahua Temple Before Burial at Bukit Brown Tomorrow
Mr. Wong Chin Yoke, the former Detective Chief of the Singapore Special Branch (Political Section), fled to Surabaya, Java, during the Japanese invasion. Unfortunately, due to a lapse in his concealment, he was betrayed and captured by the Japanese Military Police (Kempeitai). He was subjected to severe torture and eventually passed away in prison from beriberi.
Recently, his fellow provincials and relatives discovered his burial site. This discovery was made possible by friends in Singapore who took the opportunity to conduct local inquiries while the Sheum’s Circus was performing in that area.
After the remains were exhumed, Sheum Cheang Fook was entrusted with managing the cremation. The ashes were transported from Jakarta (Batavia) by air and were scheduled to arrive in Singapore at 11:30 AM today. Representatives from the Sam Kiang Huay Kuan and Mr. Wong’s relatives met the flight to escort the remains to Paya Lebar Road. Following a service at the temple, he will be moved to the Bukit Brown Cemetery (Second Cemetery) for burial.
Background and Career
Mr. Wong was originally from Northeast China. His father served as an official in Fuzhou, which is where Mr. Wong was born. He served in the domestic police force in China for many years before coming south to serve in the Singapore force.
During his service here, his dedication and spirit were highly commended by his superiors. The former Governor, Sir Shenton Thomas, personally awarded him the King’s Medal. Because of his profound understanding of local Japanese activities, he was forced to flee to avoid their reach when the Japanese moved south.
It is truly a great misfortune that he was ultimately captured. Throughout his life, Mr. Wong treated others with the utmost sincerity; it is expected that a great many people will attend his funeral procession to pay their final respects.
War hero's ashes flown back to Singapore
The Straits Times, 20 September 1954, Page 4
The text in the uploaded image is transcribed as follows:
THE ashes of a war hero who escaped from Singapore shortly before the Colony was over-run by the Japanese in 1942 were flown back to Singapore from Jakarta yesterday.
The remains of Mr. Wong Chin Yeok, chief of the Chinese section of the C.I.D. before the war, who died 11 years ago, will be re-interred tomorrow at a Chinese cemetery in Thomson Road with full police honours.
Among those attending the re-interment at a site Wong chose himself in 1936 will be his close friends, men and officers of the Special Branch, including its Director, Mr. A. E. G. Blades.
Mr. Ong left Singapore in 1942 with 10 of his men and was betrayed after he tried to start an underground movement against the Japanese in Indonesia.
He died in 1943. His body was claimed and removed from a Japanese military hospital by a friend, then buried almost immediately.
Straits Times picture above shows Madam Wong and her daughters, Geok Chin and Soo Chin with the ashes.
魂兮歸來！”已故本坡政治部華人組探長王振玉骨灰運星★擇定本星期三或四日安葬警察當局★報以最隆重葬儀
南洋商报 (Nanyang Siang Pau), 20 September 1954, Page 7
魂兮歸來！」經三度衍期後，已故本坡政冶部人組探長王振玉氏遺灰終於昨日下午五自耶嘉達運返本坡。時零六分由印尼航空
骨灰不用瓦或銅鼎裝盛，而係载於方形皮箱之内。
昨在機場候迎，除其未亡人及其子女三人外尚有王氏生前親友三江會館主席王相賢，世界斋局老板周星衢，三江帮倫賢李賢本，及何冢徇，趙玉琳等。安葬骨灰事現由王相賢及趙玉琳兩氏負責壽劃，聞將在星期三（二十二日）與星期四（一十四日）間擇定一天舉行，屆時警察盆局将我以最隆重之警官因公殉職葬儀。王氏弱冠南來，失却升學楼會，不諳英語，然琛才大生，服版於本坡偵探部迅■頭角，王氏雖學不如人，而深知愛國，因日本奸細到處活動，乃專門以揭穿日諜陰谋為己任，興已故林謀盛少將密切合作，號爲時雙傑o迨日寇南侵，星洲阽危，王氏猶泰然自若，政冶部主管官脫闌列特眼見危機日迫，乃約王氏出走，避禍泅水，抵爪後為避免人疑，逐分道臧匿，王氏卒因漢奸出■，被繄冏圄，瘦死獄中，脫蘭列特雖幸慶生還，亦終於戰後因飛機失事喪生，兩人同遭橫禍捐生，良堪慨歎。最高之兩項勳章，一為英皇警察勳章，另一為殖民地警察勳章，以不王氏生前，曾獲警界部富高級探長者，王氏堪稱空前絶後一人。王氏還兩女一子居長，現任職於本坡所得稅公署，子行二，肄業於英書院第八號，嘉坡奉人女校第五號，兒女均漸成長，王氏有知，亦富含笑九泉矣。最幼一女現攻讀於新加坡華人女校
The Soul Returns!"
After three delays, the ashes of the late Singapore Special Branch Chief Detective, Mr. Wong Chin Yeok, finally arrived from Jakarta yesterday afternoon at 5:06 PM via Indonesian Airways.
The ashes were not contained in a traditional ceramic or bronze vessel but were carried within a square leather suitcase. Waiting at the airport to receive him, in addition to his widow and three children, were his close friends and associates, including the Chairman of the San Kiang Huay Kuan and the owner of World Book Company. The Singapore Police Force will honor him with the most solemn funeral honors accorded to an officer killed in the line of duty.
A Heroic Career and Tragic End
• Professional Standing: Mr. Wong was the Chief of the Chinese Section of the C.I.D. and a high-ranking detective in the Special Branch.
• War Record: He worked in close cooperation with Major-General Lim Bo Seng; the two were known as the "Double Heroes" of the era.
• Betrayal: In 1942, he escaped to Indonesia with ten of his men to start an underground movement against the Japanese. He was betrayed by a collaborator and captured by the Japanese Military Police (Kempeitai).
• Death: He died in 1943 while in custody at a Japanese military hospital, succumbing to emaciation and beriberi following torture.
• Discovery: His burial site was located 11 years later with the help of the Sheum Cheang Fu Circus troupe while they were performing in Indonesia.
Honors and Legacy
• Decorations: For his dedication and spirit, Mr. Wong was awarded the King’s Police Medal and the Colonial Police Medal.
• Final Resting Place: His remains were returned to Singapore to be re-interred at a site he had chosen for himself in 1936.
• Family: He is survived by his widow, Madam Wong, and three children who are now grown or completing their education in Singapore.
Wong Chin Yoke, Sheum Cheang Fook, Sun Si Ting were all members of the Nanyang Hwa Pek Thung Hsiang Hoey (南洋华北同乡会), a clan made up of members from provinces in northern China
There is a cluster of tombs in Blk 4 A
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